Square end carton structure



Jan. 2, 1968 K. T. BUTTERY 7 3,361,328

- SQUARE EN D CARTON STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1967 E 3fl f INVENTOR Kenneth 7.'Buffery ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1968 K. T. BUTTERY I3,361,328

SQUARE END CARTON STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed July 15, 1967INVENTOR Z Kennefh Buttery ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,361,328SQUARE END CARTQN STRUCTURE Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, MiclL,assignor to Brown Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of DelawareFiled July 13, 1967, Ser. No. 653,060 Claims. ((31. 229-37) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE Novel carton having squared ends to facilitate adequatesealing involving overlapping end flaps with appropriate debossments andembossment on end flaps in such a manner that a square end of the cartonis presented for sealing despite the fact that there are overlappingflaps of different lengths and widths presenting an otherwise 1111- evensurface for end sealing of the carton. Novel blanks adapted to beerected into the said cartons. Additionally, the said carton blanks andcartons having a revised and staggered alignment of scores betweenpanels and their end flaps to further facilitate end squaring of thecarton, ensure adequate sealing and obviate leakage thereof.

Background of the invention Cartons, having a so-called flip top coverhingedly connected to the top edge of the rear wall, are now firmlyestablished in the trade. Such cartons are ordinarily erected with thecover in sealed condition and are readily opened by means of a tearstrip or adhesive panel. They are particularly popular as containers forfood items such as ice cream and the like. Once the tear strip isremoved, the cover may be opened for access to some or all of thecontents, and may be reclosed for further storage until the contentshave been completely consumed. Cartons of this type have been availablein the prior art and are satisfactory in use. However, it has beenexceedingly difficult to seal the ends of such cartons and leakers havecontinuously presented problems to both manufacturers and distributors,to say nothing of the ultimate consumers of the product contained insuch cartons.

Leakers are, of course, undesirable, for reasons not only of appearancebut also of sanitation and health. Numerous attempts have been made tocorrect the situation and eliminate such leakers, as by changing thealignment of scores between carton panels and end flaps, by changing thearrangement of carton panels and flaps, by underfilling cartons, and byvarious other approaches, without any noticeable success. The fact isthat the best cartons on the market today, of the type here involved,still have an undesirably high percentage of leakers, especially whenfilled with ice cream, parfait, and particularly ice type of dessertmaterials, since these are more readily subject to melting and flow.

The problem of leakage arises because of the plurality of flaps at theends of such cartons, which are of various dimensions and in variousconditions of overlap, Thus, at one position at the end of the cartonthree flaps are overlapped, at another position at the carton end fourflaps are overlapped, and at still a different position at the cartonend a different three flaps are overlapped. At one point the bottom endflap and the two wall end flaps overlap; at another point the bottom endflap, the front wall end flap, the front panel end flap, and the toppanel end flap overlap; and at yet a different point the bottom endflap, the rear wall end flap, and the top panel end flap are inoverlapping position. In the sealing of such cartons having an unevenlayering of their end panels on standard carton sealing equipment, muchdifliculty has been experienced, as with incomplete seals, theaforementioned leakers, and so on. Attempts to remedy the situa-Patented Jan. 2, 1968 tion have therefore been made by adjusting thescores between the bottom panel and its end flaps by offsetting thescoresinwardly with respect to the scores between the front and rearwalls and their respective end flaps. Also, scores between the top paneland its end flaps have been offset outwardly with respect to the scoresbetween the rear wall and its end flaps. In addition, scores between thefront panel and its end flaps have also been offset outwardly a certainextent when considered with regard to the scores between the rear walland its end flaps. To date, all attempts to solve this dilemna have metonly with confusion, failure, and at very best only partial success, andcertain segments of the market are today trending away from thedesirable carton structures previously employed just because of theproblems of the varying dimensions and thicknesses of the flaps at theends of the carton and the impossibility of squaring these up onstandard carton sealing equipment to prevent inadequate seals andleakers. It is clear that a solution to this problem is long overdue.

Summary of the invention It is accordingly an object of the presentinvention to provide a carton having a novel square-end structure whichis not subject to any of the aforementioned objections and difliculties.It is a further object to provide such a carton wherein the end flapsare suitably debossed and embossed to present a more nearly squared-upcarton end for sealing purposes. Still a further object of the inventionis to provide such a carton wherein the scores between major panels andend flaps are in substantial alignment with the exception of the scoresbetween the top panel and its end flaps, which are offset outwardly withrespect to the scores between the carton rear wall and its end flaps. Anadditional object of the invention is the provision of integral blanksadapted and suitable for erection into the cartons of the invention. Theaccomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become morefully apparent here inafter, and still other objects will be apparent toone skilled in the art.

Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention The inventionin a preferred embodiment is illustrated by the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank cut and scored for assembling a cartonhaving the novel square-end feature according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton erected from the blank ofFIG. 1 showing the rear wall end flap folded over into overlappingposition with regard to the bottom flap, and showing the front wall endflap, the top panel end flap, and the front panel end flap in openposition about to be closed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken of the rear wall end flap 7 alongthe line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear wall end flap 7 of the cartonshowing areas of embossment and debossment.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the carton showing the end flaps closed withthe exception of the front panel end flap and the top panel end flap.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sealed carton.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a carton, similar to the view of FIG. 5,wherein the front and rear wall end flaps have been folded first and thebottom end flaps are folded thereover, the bottom end flaps in this caseconstituting the outer end walls of the carton and being provided withthe areas of embossment and debossment.

According to the invention, the usual carton is provided which is formedfrom an integral blank comprising panels including a bottom having endwall flaps hingedly connected to the ends thereof, a front wall hingedlyconnected to one edge of the bottom having front wall end flaps hingedlyconnected to the ends thereof, and a rear wall hingedly connected to theother edge of the bottom having rear wall end flaps hingedly connectedto the ends thereof. A top panel or cover is provided which is hingedlyconnected to the upper edge of the rear wall. The top panel is providedwith top panel end flaps and a front panel. The front panel is providedat its ends with front panel end flaps which are overlapped by andafiixed to the top panel end fiaps. Detachable means, as for example anadhesive strip or an adhesive strip in combination with a tear strip, isprovided at the edge of the front panel for affixing the front panel tothe carton front wall.

Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the top panel end flaps areeach provided with a detachable adhesive panel connected thereto along aseverance line. The structure of the carton is preferably so designedthat adjacent blanks may be reversed for nesting together during thecutting process in order to conserve paperboard raw material. Suitablecarton structures are found in US. Patent 3,281,054, issued October 25,1966, and the novel square-end features of the present invention may beincorporated into these carton structures and styles as well as numerousothers. The advantages enumerated for the cartons of US. Patent3,281,054 also characterize the cartons of the present invention, whichin addition have the important and novel square-end structure of thepresent invention.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the carton bottomend flaps are folded in first. Then, one of the carton rear and frontwall end flaps is folded over, followed by the other one of the frontand rear wall end flaps, thereby providing an inner flap which is inturn overlapped by either the front or rear wall end flap, itself beingoverlapped in turn by the other one of said carton front and rear wallend flaps. The one of the front and rear wall end flaps which is foldedfirst is, according to the invention, provided with a debossment, in thearea of overlap with the other one of the carton rear and front wallendflaps, so that the last to be folded may in effect be seated therein.Then, the front panel end flap is folded over the carton front wall endflap, to seat in a further debossment in the area of overlap of thecarton front wall end flap by said carton front panel end flap. Inaddition, an embossment is provided in an upper area of the carton rearwall end flap, where such will be overlapped by the carton top panel endflap, which is then folded over all preceding flaps. The result of thisnovel structure is to present a more nearly square end of the carton forsealing, which is especially adaptable to the employment of preappliedheat-sealing adhesive patches on the various carton end flaps. Inaddition, alignment of the scores between the carton panels and theirend flaps with' the exception of the scores between the carton top paneland its end flaps provides a further desirable feature of the inventionand makes the squared-up carton end even more square and suitable forsealing on usually available carton sealing equipment and has thefurther beneficial efiect of allowing 'an even superior seal andconcomitant elimination of an even greater percentage of leakers.

Reversal of the order of folding the bottom end flaps and front and rearwall flaps is contemplated, the necessary embossment and debossment thenbeing present. on the bottom end flaps, and this alternative structure,which presents the same advantages, will be discussed more "fully inconnection with FIG. 7 hereof.

Specific reference to the drawings Reference is now made to theaccompanying drawings for a better understanding of the invention,wherein all the parts are numbered and wherein the same numbers are usedto refer to corresponding parts thereof, and

. wherein areas having an adhesive applied thereto are indicated bystippled shading and areas having an embossmeat or debossment areindicated by a series of horizontal or vertical lines.

In a preferred form, the carton of the invention may be constructed froman integral blank, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and comprises a bottom 1,and a front wall 2, and a rear wall 3, both hingedly connected to thebottom It. A cover or top panel 4 is hingedly connected to the rear wall3. The bottom 1 is provided at its ends with end flaps 5 hin-gedlyconnected thereto, front wall 2 is provided at its ends with front wallend flaps 6 hingedly connected thereto, and rear wall 3 is provided withrear wall end fiaps 7 hingedly connected thereto.

Top panel 4 is provided with end flaps 8 comprising end wall panels 9having adhesive panels 19 connected thereto at severance or fracturelines 11. The top panel 4 is also provided at its forward edge with acover flap 12 comprising a front panel 13, and a severance or fractureline 14 defining a detachable tear strip having a tab or graspableportion 16 at one end thereof. The adhesive panel 15 may be adhesivelyal'ficred to the front wall in any one of a number of conventional ways,as shown by means of isolated adhesive areas 17. These may alternativelybe provided on the surface of the front wall, again as conventional inthe art. If desired, suitable glue resist coatings or glue resist ink,or both, may be advantageously applied between the adhesive areas toprevent adhesion at such places when a general application of adhesiveis provided.

The front panel 12 is provided at its ends with end flaps 18 for beingaffixed to the top panel end flaps 8. The length of the front panel endflaps is preferably greater than the width of the top panel end flapsand the Width of the front panel end flaps is preferably also less thanthe width of the top panel end flaps, but this is not essential.

As shown, scores at the junctures between all panels and end flaps arealigned, except the scores at the juncture between top panel iand endflaps 8, which are offset problems, when'such scores between panels andend flaps were not all aligned. The dotted lines are 27a, 30a and 31a.

The lower portions of the terminal edges of the rear wall end flaps areeach provided with an oblique recession 19, receding from theforward-most terminal edge 21 toward the bottom edge of the flap 7 to avertical edge 22 having the same length as the edge 21. The forward edge21 is preferably positioned a sufiicient distance from the bottom edgeof the flap 7 so that the edge 21 clears the adhesive area 23 carried onthe front wall end flap 6 when the flaps 6 and 7 are folded together. Arectangular corner recess 20 is also provided in the upper terminalcorner of the rear wall end flap 7 to facilitate nesting. The obliquereceding edge 19 is preferably straight and has a further function inthat it permits oblique edge 19 of an adjacent blank to nest closelytherewith. In the broaderaspects of the invention, the recess 20 may beomitted, as may the oblique recession 19 and the other details of thecarton rear wall end flaps, providing only that the debossment 25 ispresent when the carton front wall end flaps 6 and the carton rear wallend flaps 7 fold into overlapping position. Which flap is folded first,and bears the debossment, is of no significance in the broader aspectsof the invention. If these flaps do not overlap, the debossment 25 canbe omitted.

The carton front wall end flaps 6, the carton rear wall end flaps 7, andthe top panel end flaps 8 are all provided with adhesive areas 23, asshown in FIG. 1.

In addition, the carton front wall end flaps 6 are pro-' vided withareas of debossment 24 where these will be overlapped in the erectedcarton by the carton front panel end flaps 18. Carton rearwall end flaps7, which in this 7 particular embodiment are folded before the cartonfront wall end flaps 6, are provided with a debossment 25, in the areain which they will be overlapped by the carton front wall end flaps 6,thereby providing a seat for the carton front wall end flaps 6 in thearea of overlapping. Moreover, carton rear wall end flaps 7 are alsoprovided with an embossment 26 in the area in which these end flaps willbe overlapped in the erected carton by the top panel end flaps 8. Thisarea of embossment, identified as 26, coincides in the erected carton tothe tear-out portion 10 of the top panel end flaps 8.

In assembling the carton, the carton blank may be folded at the scorebetween the bottom 1 and rear wall 3. The front panel 13 is then foldedover and the adhesive panel 15 afiixed to the outer surface of the frontwall 2, forming a folded tube. Alternatively, the front wall 2 may befolded over at the score connecting it with the bottom 1 and theadhesive panel 15 may then be glued to the outer surface of the frontwall 2 in the same manner. In either form the carton so folded occupieslitttle space and may be shipped to the packager for filling andsealing.

To erect the carton further for filling, the folded carton is squaredup, as on a conventional squaring machine. It is at this point that thesquare-end structure of the present invention becomes of greatsignificance, especially since conventional carton erecting and sealingequipment generally employs flat surfaces, whether or not a mandrel(also having a flat end surface) is also employed.

In any event, one end of the carton is closed by first folding bottomflap 5. The rear wall end flap 7 and the front wall end flap 6 are thenfolded in, the front wall end flap overlapping the rear Wall end flap 7.The contour provided by the recess 19 permits the terminal edge 21 ofthe rear wall end flap 7 to clear the adhesive area 23 on the front wallend flap 6. In addition, the debossment 25 on the rear wall end flap 7permits the front wall end flap 6, when lapped thereover, to seatconveniently in the area of debossment.

FIG. 2 shows the carton at approximately this stage in its erection,after having been squared up and with the rear wall end flap '7 foldedin against bottom end flap 1, with the front wall end flap 6 about to beseated in the area of debossment 25.

The front panel end fiap 18 is then folded over against front wall endflap 6, followed finally by folding over of the top panel end flap 8.The greater length of the flap 18 permits it to be engaged and foldedover by the plough of the erecting and folding apparatus before the flap8, usually of somewhat lesser width, is engaged. Flap 18 is seatedconveniently in the area of debossment 24, located at the upper edge offront wall end flap 6 adjacent the score at which it is hingedlyconnected to the front wall 2.

When top panel end flap 8 is finally folded over, it engages the area ofembossment 26 on the rear wall end flap 7, located adjacent the score atwhich the rear wall end flap 7 is hingedly connected to the rear wall 3.As will be noted, it is to this embossed area 26 that the adhesive 23 ofthe adhesive panel 10 of the top panel end flap 8 is ultimately secured.

Heat is then applied to activate the adhesive, causing the front wallend fiap 6 to become adhesively secured to the rear wall end flap 7 andalso to the bottom end flap 5. The adhesive panel 10 becomes adhesivelyaflixed to the rear wall end flap 7 at the area of embossment 26 and thefront panel end flap 18 becomes affixed to end wall panel 9 of top panelend flap 8 while seated in the area of debossment 24. The seal betweenfront wall end flap 6 and rear wall end flap 7 is obviously alsoeffected while front wall end flap 6 is seated in the area of debossment25 of rear wall end flap 7, all as indicated and more clearly understoodfrom FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The carton may then be filled through the end remaining open inconventional manner, and the open end may subsequently be closed andsealed in the same manner, to form a completely sealed carton as shownin FIG. 6. Alternatively, the first carton end may be closed and/ ortacked, as with glue, but not sealed, and then both carton ends sealedconcurrently or simultaneously after filling of the carton.

The carton is seen in this condition, with front wall end flap 6 insealing engagement with rear wall end flap 7 but prior to folding in offront panel end flap 18 and top panel end flap 8. in FIG. 5 of thedrawing.

FIG. 3 of the drawings shows a cross-sectional view of rear wall endflap 7, showing in exaggerated elevation the embossing and debossingwhich is present on this flap. As already described, top panel end flap8 by means of its adhesive panel 10 is sealed to the area of embossment26 on flap 7, whereas front wall end flap 6 is sealed to flap 7 in thearea of debossment designated 25.

This is again seen from FIG. 4 of the drawings, which is a perspectiveview of flap 7 of the carton, showing area of embossment 26 and area ofdebossment 25 which receives front Wall end flap 6 which is ultimatelysealed thereto during erecting and sealing of the carton.

The carton may be opened by grasping the tab 16 and removing the tearstrip defined by fracture lines 14. As the cover is subsequently liftedopen, end wall panels 9 of top panel end flaps 8 are parted fromadhesive panels 19 along severance lines 11. The cover may be reclosedfor storing any unconsumed contents.

FIG. 7 shows an end View of a carton, similar to the View of FIG. 5,according to an alternative construction, showing bottom end flap 5a.bearing embossment 26a and debossment 24a. Such bottom end flaps 5a withthe specified embossment and debossment may be present in a cartonotherwise having an identical structure to that described previously andshown in the other figures of the drawings, with the exception that,when such bottom end flap 5a is present in the carton, embossment 26 isabsent from rear wall end flaps 7 and debossment 24 is absent from frontwall end flaps 6. All of the structure of the carton as describedpreviously will otherwise be unchanged. The outward appearance of thecarton will likewise be substantially unchanged from that shown in FIG.6 of the drawings, with the exception that, in erecting and closing thecarton, bottom end flaps 50 will not be folded first, but rather rearwall end flaps 7 and front wall end flaps 6 will be folded upon eachother first, and then bottom end flaps 5a will be folded thereover. Uponfolding the front panel end flaps 18 in over bottom end flaps 5a, endflaps 13 are received in debossments 24a. Upon folding top panel endflaps 8 over the end of the carton, for sealing purposes, adhesive panel10 engages the embosment 26:: at the upper rear corner of bottom endflap 5a. The carton end so produced is thus squared in the same manneras the embodiment previously shown and described, and erection andsealing is otherwise identical to that previously described.

The unique squared-up end structure of the carton, provided by the twoareas of debossment and the area of embossment on the end flaps thereof,especially when taken together with the outwardly offset score definingthe juncture between top panel 4 and its end flaps 8, as shown in FIG.1, is uniquely satisfactory in providing a uniformly and securely sealedcarton end which has in practice been found not subject to the usualrupture and leakage of previously designed cartons having usual cartonend structures, whether or not certain scores between major panels andend flaps have been offset, as practiced in the recent past. As alreadystated, as practiced in the past, the scores defining the juncturebetween bottom and bottom end flaps, top panel and top panel end flaps,and front panel and its end flaps have been ofiset, the first inwardlyand the second two outwardly, in order to obviate at least to a certainlimited extent this problem of squaring up the carton ends and tofacilitate closing and sealing and avoid the undesirable leakage, butwithout any noteworthy degree of success.

It is thus seen that, by the present invention, an economical andconveniently erected and sealed carton of sufiicient durability forfrequent opening and recl-osing is produced, having a particularadvantageously designed end structure which facilitates its closing andsealing on the usual flat-surface mandrels or other sealing equipment aspresently used in practice, which carton is produced from an integralblank. By employment of the unique embossment-debossment structure onthe end closure panels, especially together with the outwardly offsetscore line defining the juncture between the cover or top panel and itsend flaps, all of the desirable objectives of the present invention areattained.

Although the invention has been described primarily as it would bepracticed when a heat-scalable adhesive is carried directly on thecarton blank, being pre-applied thereto, other types and forms ofadhesives and other means of applying the adhesive to effect sealing ofthe carton may be employed. For example, plastic-, such as polyethylene,coated or wax-coated paperboard, or laminated paperboard with openingsfor extrusion sealing, may also be employed for the cartons and cartonblanks according to the invention.

Although, as shown in the drawings and described in the foregoing, thefront panel comprises a tear strip means and an adhesive panel, orsimply a removable adhesive panel, whereby said front panel is securedto said carton front wall, other means for securing said front panel 'tosaid carton front wall are available and may be employed with equalfacility. Moreover, as is well known in the art, some cartons areprovided for packaging of contents which do not require that the frontpanel be sealed, or even secured, to the carton front wall and in suchcases the means for sealing or securing of said front panel to saidcarton front wall and any complementary tear strip means or removableadhesive panel maybe dispensed with.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactdetails of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodimentsshown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents willbeapparent to one skilled in' the art, and the invention is therefore tobe limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an integral carton blank adapted to be erected into a cartonhaving a bottom, a front wall hingedly connected to one edge of saidbottom, a rear wall hingedly connected to the opposite edge of saidbottom, a top panel hingedly connected to the opposite edge of said rearwall, and a front panel hingedly connected to said top panel and adaptedto overlap said front wall in the erected carton, said bottom having endflaps hingedly connected thereto, said rear wall having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said front wall having end flaps hingedlyconnected thereto, said top panel having end flaps hinged- 1y connectedthereto, and said front panel having end flaps hingedly connectedthereto, said bottom end flaps being adapted to be folded so as toconstitute one layer of the end walls of the carton in the erectedcarton, said front wall end flaps and rear wall end flaps being adaptedto overlap each other in the erected carton, said front panel end flapsbeing adapted to overlie said bottom end flaps or said front wall endflaps in the erected carton, and said top panel end flaps being adaptedto overlie said front panel end flaps in the erected carton,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on the two end flapsselected from bottom and front wall end flaps which will be overlayed bysaid front panel end flaps in the area in which they will be overlayedtoward the front of the erected carton, an embossment on one of the twoend flaps selected from bottom and rear wall end flaps which will beoverlayed by said top panel and flaps in the area in which they 'will beoverlayed toward the rear of the erected carton, and a debossment of theone pair of flaps which will be the innermost of said front wall endflaps and said rear wall end flaps in the erected carton in the area inwhich they will be overlapped by the other of said front and rear wallend flaps, so as to provide a square end in the erected carton uponerection and sealing of the same.

2. In an integral carton blank adapted to be erected into a cartonhaving a bottom, a front wall hingedly connected to one edge of saidbottom, a rear wall hingedly connected to the opposite edge of saidbottom, a top panel hingedly connected to the opposite edge of said rearwall, and a front panel hingedly connected to said top panel andadapated to overlap said front wall in the erected carton, said bottomhaving end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said rear wall having endflaps hingedly connected thereto, said front wall having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said top panel having end flaps hingedlyconnected thereto, and said front panel having end flaps hingedlyconnected thereto, said bottom end flaps being adapted to be foldedfirst and to constitute the inner end flaps in the erected carton, andsaid front wall end flaps and rear wall end flaps being adapted tooverlie said bottom end flaps and to overlap each other in the erectedcarton, said front panel end flaps being adapted to overlie the frontwall end flaps in the erected carton, and said top panel end flaps beingadapted to overlie said front panel end flaps in the erected carton,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on said front wall endflaps in the area in which they will be overlayed by said front panelend flaps in the erected carton, an embossment in an area of the rearwall end flaps where they will be overlayed by said top panel end flapsin the erected carton, and a debossment of the one pair of flaps whichwill be the innermost of said front wall end flaps and said rear wallend flaps in the erected carton in the area in which they will beoverlapped by the other of said front and rear wall end flaps, so as toprovide a square end in the erected carton upon erection and sealing ofthe same.

3. The carton blank of claim 2, wherein, in addition to the saidembossment and debossments, the scores defining the juncture between thebottom and the bottom end flaps are substantially aligned with thescores defining the juncture between the front and rear walls and theirrespective end flaps, and wherein the scores defining the juncturebetween the carton top panel and its'end flaps are offset outwardly withrespect to the scores defining the juncture between the carton rear walland its outer end flaps, and wherein the scores defining the juncturebetween the front panel and its end flaps are offset inwardlywith-respect 6. The carton blank of claim 3, including adhesive.

means for securing carton end flaps together comprising a preappliedheat-sealing adhesive.

7. A carton erected from an integral carton blank hav-' ing a bottom, afront wall hingedly connected to one edge of said bottom, a rear wallhingedly connected to the opposite edge of said bottom, a top panelhingedly connected to the opposite edge of said rear wall, and a frontpanel hingedly connected to said top panel and overlap ping said frontwall, said bottom having end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said rearwall having end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said front wall havingend flaps hingedly connected thereto, said top panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, and said front panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said bottom end flaps constituting one layerof the end walls of the carton, said front wall end flaps and rear wallend flaps overlapping each other, said front panel end flaps overlyingsaid bottom end flaps or said front wall end flaps, and said top panelend flaps overlying said front panel end flaps,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on the two end flapsselected from bottom and front wall end flaps which are overlayed bysaid front panel end flaps in the area in which they are overlayedtoward the front of the erected carton, an embossment on one of the twoend flaps selected from bottom and rear wall end flaps which areoverlayed by said top panel end flaps in the area in which they areoverlayed toward the rear of the erected carton and a debossment of theone pair of flaps which is the innermost of said front wall end flapsand said rear wall end flaps in the area in which they are overlapped bythe other of said front and rear wall end flaps, so as to provide asquare end in the carton flaps of the carton being adhesively secured toeach other.

8. A carton erected from an integral blank and having a bottom, a frontwall hingedly connected to one edge of said bottom, a rear wall hingedlyconnected to the opposite edge of said bottom, a top panel hingedlyconnected to the opposite edge of said rear wall, and a front panelhingedly connected to said top panel and overlapping said front wall,said bottom having end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said rear wallhaving end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said front wall having endflaps hingedly connected thereto, said top panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, and said front panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said bottom end flaps being folded first andconstituting the inner end flaps, and said front wall end flaps and rearwall end flaps overlying said bottom end flaps and overlapping eachother, said front panel end flaps overlying the front wall end flaps,and said top panel end fiaps overlying said front panel end flaps andsaid rear wall end flaps,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on said front wall endflaps in the area in which they are overlayed by said front panel endflaps, an embossment in an area of the rear wall,

end flaps where they are overlayed by said top panel end flaps, and adebossment of the one pair of flaps which is the innermost of said frontwall end flaps and said rear wall end flaps in the area in which theyare overlapped by the other of said front and rear wall end flaps, so asto provide a square end in the carton, flaps of the carton beingadhesively secured to each other.

9. An erected and sealed carton of claim 8, wherein, in addition to thesaid embossment and debossments, the scores defining the juncturebetween the bottom and the bottom end flaps are substantially alignedwith the scores defining the juncture between the front and rear wallsand their respective end flaps, and wherein the scores defining thejuncture between the carton top panel and its end flaps are offsetoutwardly with respect to the scores defining the juncture between thecarton rear wall and its outer end flaps, and wherein the scoresdefining the juncture between the front panel and its end flaps areoffset inwardly with respect to the scores defining the juncture betweenthe carton top panel and its end fiaps.

10. The carton of claim 8, wherein said front panel is adhesivelysecured to said carton front wall.

11. The carton of claim 9, wherein the scores defining the juncturebetween the front panel and its end flaps are substantially aligned withthe scores defining the juncture between the carton rear wall and itsend flaps.

12. The carton of claim 9, wherein said carton front panel comprisestear strip means and an adhesive panel secured to said carton front wallbelow said tear strip means.

13. The carton of claim 9, including adhesive means securing carton endflaps together comprising a heat sealing adhesive.

14. The carton of claim 8, wherein said rear wall end flaps underliesaid front wall end flaps.

15. The carton of claim 7, wherein the top panel end flaps comprise adetachable adhesive panel and wherein said detachable adhesive panel issecured to said embossment toward the rear of the erected carton.

16. The carton blank of claim 1, wherein the top panel end flapscomprise a detachable adhesive panel and wherein said detachableadhesive panel is adapted to be secured to said embossment which will belocated toward the rear of the erected carton.

17. In an integral carton blank adapted to be erected into a cartonhaving a bottom, a front wall hingedly connected to one edge of saidbottom, a rear wall hingedly connected to the opposite edge of saidbottom, a top panel hingedly connected to the opposite edge of said rearwall, and a front panel hingedly connected to said top panel and adaptedto overlap said front wall in the erected carton, said bottom having endflaps hingedly connected thereto, said rear wall having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said front wall having end flaps hingedlyconnected thereto, said top panel having end fiaps hingedly connectedthereto, and said front panel having end flaps hingedly connectedthereto, said bottom end flaps being adapted to be folded so as toconstitute one layer of the end walls of the carton in the erectedcarton, said front wall end flaps and rear wall end flaps being adaptedto provide end wall sections in the erected carton, said front panel endflaps being adapted to overlie said bottom end flaps or said front wallend flaps in the erected carton, and said top panel end flaps beingadapted to overlie said front panel end flaps in the erected carton,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on the two end flapsselected from bottom and front wall end flaps which will be overlayed bysaid front panel end flaps in the area in which they will be overlayedtoward the front of the erected carton and an embossment on one of thetwo end flaps selected from bottom and rear wall end flaps which will beoverlayed by said top panel end fiaps in the area in which they will beoverlayed toward the rear of the erected carton, so as to provide a morenearly square end in the erected carton upon erection and sealing of thesame.

18. In an integral carton blank adapted to be erected into a cartonhaving a bottom, a front wall hingedly connected to one edge of saidbottom, a rear wall hingedly connected to the opposite edge of saidbottom, a top panel hingedly connected to the opposite edge of said rearwall, and a front panel hingedly connected to said top panel and adaptedto overlap said front wall in the erected carton, said bottom having endflaps hingedly connected thereto, said rear wall having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said front wall having end flaps hingedlyconnected thereto, said top panel having end flaps hingedly connectedthereto, and said front panel having end flaps hingedly connectedthereto, said bottom end flaps being adapted to be folded first and toconstitute the inner end flaps in the erected carton, and said frontwall end flaps and rear wall end flaps being adapted to overlie saidbottom end flaps in the erected carton, said front panel end flaps beingadapted to overlie the front wall end flaps in the erected carton, andsaid top panel end flaps being adapted to overlie said front panel endflaps in the erected carton,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on said front wall endflaps in the area in which they will be overlayed by said front panelend flaps in the erected carton and an embossment in an area of the rearwall end flaps where they will be overlayed by said top panel end flapsin the erected carton, so as to provide a more nearly square end in theerected carton upon erection and sealing of the same.

19. A carton erected from an integral carton blank having a bottom, afront wall hingedly connected to one edge of said bottom, a rear wallhingedly connected to the opposite edge of said bottom, a top panelhingedly connected to the opposite edge of said rear wall, and a frontpanel hingedly connected to said top panel and overlapping said frontwall, said bottom having end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said rearwall having end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said front wall havingend flaps hingedly connected thereto, said top panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, and said front panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said bottom end flaps constituting one layerof the end Walls of the carton, said front wall end flaps and rear wallend flaps providing further end wall sections of said carton, said frontpanel end flaps overlying said bottom end flaps or said front wall endflaps, and said top panel end flaps overlying said front panel endflaps,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on the two end flapsselected from bottom and front wall end flaps which are overlayed bysaid front panel end flaps in the area in which they are overlayedtoward the front of the erected carton and an embossment on one of thetwo end flaps selected from bottom and rear wall end flaps which areoverlayed by said top panel end flaps in the area in which they areoverlayed toward the rear of the erected carton, so as to provide a morenearly square end in the carton, flaps of the carton being adhesivelysecured to each other.

20. A carton erected from an integral blank and having a bottom, a frontwall hingedly connected to one edge of said bottom, a rear Wall hingedlyconnected to .the opposite edge-of said bottom, a top panel hingedlyconnected to the opposite edge of said rear wall, and a front panelhingedly connected to said top panel and overlapping said front wall,said bottom having end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said rear wallhaving end flaps hingedly connected thereto, said front wall having endflaps hingedly connected thereto, said top panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, and said front panel having end flapshingedly connected thereto, said bottom end flaps being folded first andconstituting the inner end flaps, and said front wall end flaps and rearwall end flaps overlying said bottom end flaps, said front panel endflaps overlying the front wall end flaps, and said top panel end flapsoverlying said front panel end flaps, and said rear wall end flaps,

the improvement which comprises a debossment on said front wall endflaps in the area in which they are overlayed by said front panel endflaps and an embossment in an area of the rear wall end flaps where theyare overlayed by said top panel end flaps, so as to provide a morenearly square end in the carton, flaps of the carton being adhesivelysecured to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,822 10/1941 Kienlen 229483,003,677 10/1961 Hennessey 22937 3,147,904 9/1964 Larson 229513,194,474 7/1965 Rumbergcr 229-37 3,197,109 7/1965 Nelson 229--373,239,129 3/1966 Schilling 229 51 3,270,946 9/1966 Redpath et al. 229-513,281,054 10/1966 Buttery et al. 229-51 3,295,743 1/1967 Redpath et al.229-51 3,315,870 4/1967 Barnes 229-37 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, PrimaryExaminer.

